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Taylor Ward, Riyad Mahrez's spouse, explains her newfound love for Saudi Arabia.
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Others dedicate their time to desert excursions, modeling, and crossing over the frontier.
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Bathed in sun, luxurious yet possibly somewhat impersonal—life for footballers and their families in Saudi Arabia comes with exhilarating peaks and isolating troughs.
Football teams in the traditionally conservative Middle Eastern country spend staggering amounts to secure the services of top players, with an expenditure of £164 million per season as seen in the case of
Cristiano Ronaldo
- But that doesn't simplify things for their loved ones.
Their spouses must navigate a society where they are expected to remain covered during scorching weather, tolerate gender-separated facilities in sports centers, and travel to Bahrain or the UAE for an alcoholic drink if desired.
Taylor Ward, who married former
Manchester City
star
Riyad Mahrez
in January 2022 (in the first of three ceremonies!), is one of those. One day she was living in England. Then a sudden phone call from her husband, announcing that he was joining Jeddah-based Al-Ahli, changed her life - and caused the tears to flow.
'I just burst into tears. I was honestly inconsolable,' she tells
The Times
. 'Being married to a footballer, we’re so privileged. It’s an amazing life, don’t get me wrong. But there are parts that are hard as well, like moving abroad and being away from your family.'
Ward is a star of the Amazon series Married to the Game, which affords viewers a deep dive into the lives of footballers' wives and girlfriends, warts and all. She is one of many partners who have had to adapt to life in the Middle East.
As the group of wives and girlfriends in Saudi has expanded gradually, it still doesn’t compare to the entourage found in Cheshire or London. However, this circle now features notable members such as Georgina Rodriguez, who is dating Cristiano Ronaldo; Rebeca Tavares, Fabinho’s wife; and Larissa Pereira, Roberto Firmino’s spouse. When his husband Steven Gerrard coached Al-Ettifaq, Alex Curran was also among their ranks.
Mahrez and Ward reside in an eight-bedroom home along with their young daughter Mila, who is two years old, as well as his daughters Ayla and Inaya from his previous marriage to Rita Johal. Indeed, such a luxurious abode featuring eight bedrooms comes at the price of a salary amounting to £750,000 per year.
This opulent residence features cream-colored carpets and couches, numerous walk-in closets, a bar area, and an entertainment section along with a spacious kitchen. However, it might appear somewhat stark as well.
Ward has put considerable effort into the interior design and regularly updates her 50,000 Instagram followers through a specific account for this purpose. Her mom, Real Housewives of Cheshire cast member Dawn Ward, lends her assistance whenever needed.
It was challenging in Saudi Arabia to find a house that was small enough for our needs," she shared with the Times. "They have homes with sixteen bedrooms. I thought, 'This is absurd.'
Ward humorously mentions that he has about three friends, contrasting it with the larger circle of friendships he had in Manchester. At Mahrez’s Al-Ahli club, there are just a few former Premier League players along with their families, including Firmino, Ivan Toney, and Edouard Mendy.
Instead of embracing the country,
Alex Curran went so far as to avoid Saudi Arabia altogether.
For a more liberated way of living beyond the borders in Bahrain, she experienced an idyllic existence in a spacious six-bedroom house costing £10,000 per month, located in Manama, the country’s capital. Here, her neighbors included members of the royalty, and both dress codes and leisure activities were subject to fewer limitations compared to some stricter regions.
They had free membership of the country’s two most exclusive health clubs, based at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel and the Ritz Carlton Hotel, and hung out at the Bahrain Rugby Club, an exclusive expat hangout. The Moda Mall at the World Trade Centre in Bahrain offered an array of designer stores, salons, and spas.
Ward and her family go to the cinema and bowling regularly, and have taken circus trips, while she watches from a VIP seat in Jeddah’s Alinma Stadium. At the weekend, they were special guests of Red Bull Racing at the Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix.
Others fill their time differently. Fabinho and his wife Rebeca Tavares go quad biking in the desert, hang out at the beach in Jeddah, and cross into Dubai to visit the zoo.
Larisa Pereira, wife of Roberto Firmino and a co-founder of an evangelical church in Brazil, enjoys the peace of her Bible studies and theology books. Like a lot of the other footballing families, they have mutliple kids to entertain, so recently visited a Barbie exhibit to burn off some steam.
Georgina Rodriguez loves exploring Saudi Arabis's desert landscapes. A visit to AlUla, an ancient Arabian oasis city, left her stunned. She has also been able to expand the horizons of her modelling career, and taken to the culture so much that she has got an Arabic tattoo.
We hesitated to speak... [we preferred] not to break the ambiance. The quietness— it’s something you can’t experience elsewhere," she mentioned. "AlUla is among the most remarkable locations I have visited. It takes your vitality and returns it refreshed.
After Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr, they had to remain at a hotel for about a month, which required some acclimation. "Initially, I went through periods of highs and lows since living in a hotel for such an extended time was new to us all," explained Rodriguez. "There were moments when I wished not to be seen by others, yet generally, I felt enthusiastic." This sentiment resonated with Ward as well; she too has grown fond of the place over time.
Ward stated that they receive so many guests from their hometown that there could nearly be "a hundred" people wandering around the house, which abruptly underscores the necessity for having eight bedrooms.
I genuinely enjoy living in Saudi now," Ward stated on Married to the Game. "People often visit me here. My buddies travel from the UK, and since my parents reside in Dubai, they frequently stop by, which is truly wonderful.
It feels great being out in the sunshine; everyone around seems very friendly, and I’ve gotten much better at navigating this place. The children are enrolled in daycare, I discovered an excellent gym nearby, these small conveniences truly make everyday living much more pleasant and effortless.
Language poses a significant obstacle. While Ward has acquired some knowledge of Arabic, he still finds it challenging to locate specific items at the grocery store. Additionally, he mistakenly drove on the incorrect side of the motorway (since women gained permission in 2018).
A report by Mail Online in 2024 claimed that spouses of footballers playing in the top league of a Gulf nation experienced public harassment and were denied access to stores and eateries due to their attire.
It can get isolating," Ward shared with Married to the Game. "I have had to leave behind my entire family and reside on the opposite side of the globe, in a nation with a wholly distinct culture.
In Bahrain, where Gerrard's family resided, an expatriate shared insights into what makes the country attractive.
Daniel McRae, a devoted Liverpool supporter, mentioned: "Gerrard frequents this place (Bahrain Rugby Club bar) rather often. He enjoys having a drink, mingling with others, and discussing football; something you can't do as freely in Saudi Arabia."
“And it’s simpler for women to reside here, which might be why his spouse likely preferred being here. You can walk around wearing shorts or a sleeveless top without drawing unwanted attention, making Bahrain quite appealing.”
However, one significant advantage of their new life is the enhanced security.
Numbeo
ranked Saudi Arabia as the 14th safest nation for living this year. The United Kingdom was placed at 87th position.
"I can finally get some rest at night," Ward said.
the Sun
'We've experienced theft before, which makes us hesitant to own valuable items.'
'The house I have in Saudi Arabia is ten times larger than the one in England, and if I were to be alone somewhere, I would opt for Saudi without hesitation any day of the week.'
There are numerous break-ins and negative incidents happening, particularly in Cheshire. This poses a significant issue.
I used to tell Riyad, “Don’t get me a watch for my birthday; I don’t want to stand out.” But now that we reside in Saudi Arabia, you have the chance to really appreciate and sport fine items.
Ronaldo, Georgina, and their family had different feelings about the situation. Early this month, it was reported that they hired a new head bodyguard and dismissed some members of his security team due to safety worries while in Saudi Arabia.
Since Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023, the pair has apparently enjoyed a mostly low-profile existence, often taking strolls and going out with their kids in Riyadh.
However, upsetting messages directed at the Portuguese star and his partner Georgina on social media have apparently put the family on high alert, leading Ronaldo to respond accordingly.
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